Beijing is a city that never stops changing. Every day, a new building is erected in the Chinese capital, and it's incredible to see! But what makes Beijing really stand out is that it's not just a city of run-of-the-mill skyscrapers. Many of the city's quirky and delightful buildings look like everyday objects: a pair of trousers, a mountain range, and even a giant egg. All these wonderful buildings are there for us all to admire. Let's check out how many of them you have visited before!
Galaxy Soho
A mixed-use futuristic commercial building in the heart of Beijing that took 30 months to complete. It is a 1-million square foot office, retail, and entertainment complex designed by the amazing Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher. Constructed with distinctive bands of white aluminum and glass bridges links its four continuous structures. The fluid design features massive courtyards. The first three levels are home to some retail and entertainment spaces, while the top of the building is filled with bars, restaurants, and cafes. The middle floors are offices.
China Central Television Headquarters
You can't miss the huge, silver-grey headquarters of China Central Television, which earned its nickname "big pants" because it looks like a pair of trousers. This building cost $900 million and was designed by Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren of OMA. It is 51 stories and soars 767 feet above Beijing's central business district. The building is home to all of CCTV's former scattered offices including television studios, broadcasting, and production facilities. Although the building isn't open to visitors, you still can get up-close and personal exterior views by exiting the Jintaixizhao subway station.
Linda Haiyu Plaza
You'll find Linda Haiyu Plaza along the East Fourth Ring Road in the Chaoyang district. It's a series of buildings that look like a fish. The 259,186-square-foot complex is a real treasure trove. It includes one 19-story office building shaped like a fish head, three 15-story apartment buildings, a 20-story hotel, and two five-story commercial buildings. Linda Haiyu Plaza, also lovingly known as Linda Fishing Plaza, has a supermarket, a restaurant row, and a sizeable marine fishing park.
People's Daily Headquarters
The People's Daily headquarters was completed in 2015. It is designed by Zhou Qi, a professor of architecture at Southeast University. The 590-foot concrete and glazed terracotta tower has 36 floors, including three underground. The designer has mentioned the building's elongated form was meant to look like the Chinese character 人 for people from a bird's eye view.
Wangjing SOHO
The Wangjing SOHO is between the Beijing Capital Airport and the city center. It is a trio of interweaving office and retail buildings along with a trio of pavilions that resemble a futuristic mountain range. Designed by the architect Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher, the three towers, 387, 416, and 656 feet respectively. Surround by a 196,850-square-foot public park in Wangjing where a tech business hub is located. Depending on where you're standing, the buildings seem to appear to be individual, but from some angles, it looks like they're all connected! Wangjing SOHO is just a quick trip away from the subway, so it's super easy to get there for a shopping spree.
National Stadium
The National Stadium nicknamed the Bird's Nest due to its steel facade that resembles a bird's nest, became a symbol of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. With its 91,000 seats made it the perfect venue for the Olympics. The stadium was designed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, who worked closely with the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. You can view Olympic exhibits, the Olympic torch platform, and even stroll along walkways on the roof of the Bird's Nest.
National Aquatics Center
The National Aquatics Center is known as the "Water Cube" because of the blue "bubble" ethylene tetrafluoroethylene walls. It cost $143 million designed by the brilliant minds at Arup. The 17,000-seat center is adjacent to the Bird's Nest, which forms the Olympic Green in northern Beijing. The Water Cube acts as a greenhouse, letting in natural light that not only provides light but also heats the building and the pool water. You can enjoy five swimming pools, a wave machine, rides, and a restaurant. The wonderful Water Cube is open to the public.
National Centre for the Performing Arts
The National Centre for the Performing Arts was designed by the French architect Paul Andreu and resembles a giant egg. Right next to Tian'anmen Square, you'll find this amazing titanium and glass ellipsoid. It's 698 feet long, 472 feet wide, and 150 feet high. It has a 2,017-seat concert hall, a 2,416-seat opera house, and a 1,040-seat theatre. During the day, a lovely 328-foot-wide canopy allows the building's interior to be lit up, creating a beautiful, welcoming ambience. If you'd like to explore more, you can book a private guided tour for 40 minutes. There are lots of lovely places to eat and shop, as well as a great selection of books and music.
If you would like to customize your own Beijing's itinerary, please contact one of our travel consultants!
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